Clumsy staff and customers cost UK businesses over £300 million in spills and breakages, according to new research.
Research by business insurer Zurich shows that four in ten businesses with a turnover in excess of £1 million say staff were responsible for accidental breakages, while shop owners were subjected to the worst staff and customer damage.
Shop owners pay out an average of £700 over five years, almost double what office owners and managers have to pay.
The survey also revealed the extent of damage caused by children, with businesses located near playgrounds and schools forking out on average 15 per cent more in damages than those based near the local pub.
The most accident-prone people live in Wales, the north-west and Scotland, while the least clumsy reside in the south-west and the West Midlands, according to the survey.
David Nichols, small business manager for Zurich's UK Commercial business advised: "Accidents do happen and are not always preventable. Sometimes, they aren?t serious enough to warrant making a claim but if a valuable item is broken then it can be a lot to pay out to replace it if you don't have accidental damage cover."
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